The second part of the suggestion they explored as well. It was different now, as they had to find positions that were comfortable for them both. His desire, nor hers, was diminished, but her protruding belly and the aches and pains that plagued her made it more difficult. However, they did make the effort, and soon enough, their efforts paid off.
On the morning of the last day of April, eight days after their first anniversary, Elizabeth woke up soaking wet. Darcy had left earlier, allowing his wife to sleep as he worked, as she had a difficult night. She had woken up several times in the night in pain, although walking around the room each time had caused the pains to cease. Darcy had walked with her each time, so when he woke and she was still asleep, he quietly slid from the bed, dressed and headed downstairs. He let Mrs Gardiner and the midwife know about Elizabeth’s night and asked that they check on her briefly.
Elizabeth rang for her maid when she woke and attempted to stand when a sharp pain came upon her, causing her to sit back down immediately. She was still trying to recover from this when her maid entered, followed closely by the midwife.
“Are you well, mistress?” the maid asked.
Taking note of the midwife behind the maid, she informed them how she had awoken and about the pain she had just experienced. As she spoke, another pain came upon her. They all waited it out, but the midwife began to issue orders immediately, including changing Elizabeth’s clothing and bedding. Mrs Reynolds was sent for, and MrsGardiner, and soon the bedroom was swarming with maids preparing things for the impending birth.
Into all of this, Darcy arrived. Elizabeth was in a fresh gown, having been encouraged to walk the room to help prepare the baby for birth. He took over for the maid, walking with her, allowing her to pace the room with his pocket watch in hand, timing the pause between pains. They would take several slow steps and then would have to pause as he watched a pain come upon her. His hand was sore from where Elizabeth squeezed it during each of her pains, and idly, he wondered if she was stronger during this time than usual or if it was merely a reflection of the pain she was feeling giving birth to his child. While confident that his wife was strong and healthy, he could not help but be concerned for her as she laboured. His mother died shortly after giving birth to Georgiana, and Darcy could not imagine his life without Elizabeth.
After an hour, the midwife asked Elizabeth to sit, and she once again checked on her progress. “Keep her walking, sir,” she said when done. “It will not be long now, sir. Things are progressing as they should. Perhaps you should walk her towards the birthing chamber.” She patted Mr Darcy’s hand, attempting to comfort him through her actions and words. He was pale, obviously doing all he could to hide his concern for his wife as he supported her through this.
Hours later, Darcy was beside his wife as she gave birth to their first child—a son named Alexander Bennet Darcy. The couple had debated continuing the tradition of naming their heir after his mother’s family but chose to use Bennet as a middle name instead.
After mother and child were cleaned, the couple spent hours holding and watching their small son. “Are you well, dearest?” Darcy asked his wife as he held her in their bed. She was leaning against him as he rested against the headboard with plenty of pillows behind them to provide support and comfort. He loved holding his wife against him as she held their child, his arm under hers, supporting them both.
“I am, Will,” she replied, sighing happily. “He is perfect, and while I am a touch sore, I am beyond pleased with our son. He already looks a bit like you, and he definitely has your stare.” Her voice was tired, but he heard the laughter in it.
He barked a laugh at her comment, which disturbed little Alex, andhe shifted a little in his sleep and made a tiny mewling sound. His parents watched him closely, and Elizabeth jostled him lightly until he settled again.
A se’nnight after the birth,the couple finally pulled themselves away from their son enough to write letters to family and friends announcing the birth. Darcy had remained with Elizabeth during this first week, only leaving her side to introduce his son to Pemberley’s servants. For the rest of the time, he ignored all estate business during this time, and they both had chosen to wait until Elizabeth had recovered somewhat before sharing their news outside of the house.
Mrs Gardiner remained a fortnight after the birth and helped Elizabeth adjust to motherhood. There was also a nursemaid to help with the baby, but Elizabeth was determined to do as much as she could herself. She refused to follow Aunt Matlock’s advice to stay in bed and let others care for her child, choosing instead to do as Aunt Gardiner suggested. Within mere days, she was out of bed, but she did as her husband requested and stayed confined to her rooms for the first fortnight, but that was the extent of her willingness to stay confined. Very soon, she was up and gradually assuming all her duties as mistress again.
Soon after they posted the letters, they began to receive replies. Lord and Lady Matlock replied happily to the news, informing the Darcys of their intention to visit when Parliament closes for the summer. As both of their sons were unmarried, they fully intended to take advantage of their status as honourary grandparents to the Darcy children to spoil them.
The response from her family was what Elizabeth would have expected. Her sisters were pleased with their news and were excited about the prospect of seeing little Alex at some point soon. Jane was especially delighted with the news and excited about the opportunity to visit that summer. Likewise, Kitty and Lydia sent notes expressing their delight in their new nephew and expressed a desire to visit Pemberley to see him—Kitty went so far as to send a letter to Jane asking to accompany her and Mr Hastings on their trip.
Mr Bennet was pleased to learn he had a grandson but expressed little desire to see him. He briefly mentioned his wife’s reaction to the news—happy that Elizabeth had given her husband an heir but still reluctant to offer the apologies required to re-establish contact. While she might delight in crowing this news to all her friends in Meryton, she was still too resentful and reluctant to admit she had wronged her second daughter.
As Mrs Bennet sat and spoke of her grandson to her sister, Mrs Phillips, one afternoon several weeks after he was born, she was stunned by a question. “When do you go to Pemberley to meet your grandson?” Mrs Phillips asked.
“I … I am, umm, it is not certain,” she stammered. “Mr Bennet is unsure we can afford such a long trip right now.”
“Oh,” Mrs Phillips said. “But is Jane not going to be travelling to Pemberley soon? Could you not go with them?”
Mrs Bennet answered ambiguously, saying something about this being a honeymoon trip, but sheknewshe was unwelcome at Pemberley. The rest of her family would be welcome there, and she recalled that her sister-in-law had attended the birth, a fact that had thus far escaped her sister. Suddenly, she felt the need to return to Longbourn and reread her daughter’s letters. Mr Bennet allowed her to read them even if none came that were addressed to her.
When she arrived home, she went into Mr Bennet’s book room and asked to reread the letters Lizzy had sent since she had announced the birth of her son. As she read the letter from her daughter—one addressed to her husband that did not even mention her—she began to realise what she had thrown away. Due to her actions, Lizzy was unlikely ever to invite her to Pemberley or stay at Longbourn again. Even on this last visit, she had stayed at a rented home and only paid short calls on Longbourn, unwilling to dine with the family. This estrangement was entirely due to herself, which was shocking for Mrs Bennet to realise. She had created this situation; it was entirely her fault that her daughter wanted nothing to do with her. It was a difficult realisation—she retired early that night with a headache.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
At Pemberley, the new family was settling into a routine. Mrs Gardiner had departed, but their two sisters remained and provided a lot of help to the new parents, particularly Elizabeth, as she still needed help with her duties as mistress of such a large estate as Pemberley. For much of that spring and into the summer, Mary and Georgiana visited the tenants and took care of concerns outside of the house, although they met with Elizabeth each morning as they discussed what was needed. Elizabeth appreciated this help, and although she knew she could do what was needed, she thought it was good for the girls to practise the skills these visits required.
Eventually, summer arrived and along with it came several visitors. The first to arrive, early in June, were Jane and her new husband. Although many letters had been exchanged between the two, they were delighted to see each other after having not been in company for over eight months.
Elizabeth hurried down the steps as Jane stepped from the carriage to meet her. “Oh, Jane,” she cried as she wrapped her arms around her sister. Both women had tears streaming down their faces when they separated while their husbands stood watching, their amusement apparent on their faces.
Quietly, Darcy welcomed his new brother to his home. “Welcome to Pemberley, Mr Hastings,” he said in his grave tone. “We are pleased you and Mrs Hastings could join us for a few weeks. My wife was most upset that we could not attend the wedding, and she has been greatly looking forward to your visit.”
“I do believe that my attendance is less important than my wife’s,” Hastings replied, his voice not masking his amusement. “I believe it will be several minutes before either notices us, and I feel that once Jane meets your son, our presence here will be even more de trop.”
Darcy chuckled. “Then, perhaps, I should escort you into the house and offer you a drink in my study. I doubt our wives will notice if we leave them here. Elizabeth will eventually remember me, and you are newly married enough that your wife will miss you soon enough.”
Hastings laughed, and the two gentlemen made their way towards the house. They were only a little surprised when the ladies followed them.
“Mr Hastings, I have been remiss in not greeting you as well,” Elizabeth said as she hurried forward to take her husband’s arm as they walked up the steps and into the manor. “Rarely have I gone so long without seeing my dear sister, and I have missed her so much. So many things have changed in our lives this time—she has married a dear man, and I have a son. Despite our letters, we have much to catch up on. You and William should plan to become friends on this visit, as I fully intend to take up much of my sister’s time.”
